AFORMER Tring School pupil Mark Young, from Long Marston, narrowly escaped death when shrapnel shards were embedded in his neck following a roadside explosion in Iraq recently.
The 21-year-old, now a serving soldier, was in an Army convoy blasted by a bomb in Basra. His life was saved through emergency first aid given by his quick-thinking comrades.
He was the only one of seven soldiers in the Land Rover to be hurt. He was airlifted to a military field hospital in Iraq where surgeons fought to save his life before he was put on an emergency flight to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. He was home in the UK within 48 hours of the blast.
Mark joined the army at 16 and went to Iraq in May this year. He will not be sent back to Iraq.

Train station plans unveiled

IMAGES of ambitious plans for a £2million overhaul at Tring train station aimed at boosting tourism in the town were unveiled this week.
This artist’s impression of the scheme shows how the completed revamp might look as consultants, Transport for Leisure and Transport Regeneration, identify funding solutions and assess its financial viability on behalf of Silverlink Trains and Hertfordshire County Council.
Architects, who recently finished a feasibility study into the project, have released details of the proposals which could see the current building replaced with a two-storey travel centre with café facilities, improved access - including lifts for the disabled - and a refurbished platform.
The financial assessment for the idea should be concluded by the end of October and project leaders will then be in a position to see if the proposals are likely to become a reality.
Tring Town Cllr Peter Coneron, who is head of Tring Tourism and Transport Group, believes there is still a lot of hard work to do but the benefits should be far reaching for the town.
"These plans will give the town a much higher profile in terms of tourism because the station will be marketed as a gateway to the Chilterns,"he said this week.
"If a visitor to the station doesn’t like the look of the first place it doesn’t help to get them back and using it.
"These plans will give us a facility worthy of the town and the attractions you can access from it."
It is expected to be at least 12 months before firm plans are put forward and could be even longer before a planning application is lodged with Dacorum Borough Council.
The plans form part of a government led initiative looking at facilities at 14 stations nationwide in a bid to boost tourism and improve access to rural and remote areas of the country.

Group's house for town's
key workers

Cheers for museum

HISTORIANS looking to establish a museum for Tring received a £1,130 boost to their campaign this week thanks to a case of 'cash for questions'.
Punters at the Kings Arms in the town dipped into their pockets to raise the money during the King Street pub's annual quiz season organised by landlords Vicki North and John Francis.Chairman Tim Amsden, of the Local History and
Museum Society, was delighted with the donation which he believes will help them secure more funding to set up shop in the refurbished Tring Market Place.

Getting the blues at zoo

WHETHER it's a Harrods hamper or a take-away, anything goes at the Picnic Ball at Whipsnade Zoo next month.
With the Dark Blues Band playing again, the event is
becoming something special to put in the diary, especially as it will raise much needed cash to help Riding for the Disabled at Gaddesden.
At the moment the charity is faced with the refurbishment of a barn used to store food and straw.
The roof is leaking, and repairs are likely to be very expensive.
Nigel Tully, a patron of RDA, is playing with the band which is very well known for its style.
He has music making connections with people like Cleo Laine, name-dropping being forgiven in this
instance.
Dancing will go on from 7.15pm until midnight on Saturday, October 15, tickets are £33 each to support this very good cause, and tables can be booked by phoning Lizzie Roberts on 01727 761898.

Team gets
the Italian job

A TRING restaurant has backed a local football team to help raise cash for vital works needed to their pitch.
Italian restaurant Fornovivo held a charity dinner night during the summer and donated the cash raised from ticket sales to Tring Athletic Football Club. The funds went towards paying for drainage works at The Grass Roots Stadium at Pendley Sports Centre in Cow Lane.Players, members and supporters of the club turned out for the charity night in June to enjoy a great meal at the High Street restaurant.
In total £1,750 was raised through ticket sales for the night and football club secretary Ralph Griffiths thanked Peter Borg-Neal - founder of Fornovivo for a great night and raising lots of cash.

Get trained for some puppy love

BOISTEROUS hounds will be transformed into perfectly polite puppies at a new school opening in Aldbury today (Wednesday).
Puppy School was created by world-renowned animal trainer and behaviour expert Gwen Bailey who has helped set up schools across the country.
Classes, which are being taught by former school headteacher Laura Savill, will encourage puppies to be obedient, well-mannered and confident, using reward-based training methods.
Laura said: "We try to educate people about the responsibility they have with puppies. When dogs are given up due to behavioural problems, it is often because they have been failed as puppies."
During six, one hour long sessions Laura will show owners how to improve their dog's obedience and puppies will get a chance to meet other dogs.
Owners also get a Training for Life Pack.
Classes will take place at Aldbury Club Hall from today (Wednesday) until Wednesday, November 2 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
Enrolling for the six week session costs £48.
For more information about Puppy School call Laura on 07769 962842 or log on to www.puppyschool.co.uk